Recording/reproducing apparatus for more efficient recording and reproduction of audio and video signals

Abstract

A recording/reproducing apparatus includes a video memory having a capacity of at least one frame, a video processor for recording movie image data on a first track of a recording medium via the video memory, and for reproducing movie image data recorded on the first track of the recording medium via the video memory, an audio processor for recording at least one of audio data input via an input terminal and still image data constructed by movie image data selectively read out from the video memory into a plurality of channels of a second track of the recording medium, and for reproducing data recorded in the plurality of channels of the second track and a buffer for writing the reproduced still image data from the second track of the recording medium into the video memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data with respect to a recording medium having first and second tracks having a plurality of channels, comprising: a video memory having a capacity of at least one frame;   data receiving means for receiving movie image data;   digital data output means for outputting digital audio data and digital still image data different from the movie image data;   means for selectively outputting first and second mode signals, the first mode signal being used for designating recording and reproducing of the movie image data and digital audio data, and the second mode signal being used for designating the recording and reproducing of the movie image data, digital audio data and digital still image data;   first recording means for recording the movie image data onto the first track of said recording medium via said video memory, and the digital audio data onto the channels of the second track in response to the first mode signal in a recording mode;   first reproducing means for producing the movie image data recorded onto the first track of said recording medium via said video memory, and the digital audio data recorded onto the channels of the second track in response to the first mode signal in a reproducing mode;   second recording means for recording the digital audio data and the digital still image data input from said digital data output means onto the channels of said second track of said recording medium, and for recording the movie image data onto the first track in response to the second mode signal in the recording mode, the digital audio data being data input to said digital data output means;   second reproducing means for reproducing the digital audio data and the digital still image data recorded onto the channels of said second track, and for reproducing the movie image data from the first track in response to the second mode signal in the reproducing mode; and   means for writing the digital still image data reproduced from said second track of said recording medium into said video memory.   
     
     
       2. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second recording means includes buffer means for recording video data selectively read out from said video memory as digital still image data; and means for recording digital still image data read out from said buffer means and digital audio data input via said digital data output means into the plurality of channels of said second track. 
     
     
       3. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for multiplexing said video data, digital still image data and digital audio data. 
     
     
       4. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second recording means includes means for adding ID data items respectively specifying the digital still image data and digital audio data to digital still image data and digital audio data, respectively. 
     
     
       5. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second recording means includes means for subjecting the digital still image data and digital audio data to an error correction encoding process. 
     
     
       6. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second recording means include recording head means for recording video data, still image data and audio data on said recording medium. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for outputting digital audio data and digital still image data comprises means for receiving external digital audio data and external digital still image data and outputting them. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for outputting digital audio data and digital still image data comprises means for receiving an external analog audio signal and an external still image signal and means for converting the analog audio signal and the analog still image signal into digital audio data and digital still image data and outputting them. 
     
     
       9. A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data by sue of a recording medium including a first track and a second track which has a plurality of channels, comprising: video memory means having a capacity of at least one video frame;   first input/output terminal means for receiving movie image data and outputting reproduced movie image data;   first input/output means for inputting and outputting movie image data between said first input/output terminal means and the first track of said recording medium via said video memory means;   second input/output terminal means for receiving digital audio data and outputting reproduced digital audio data;   second input/output means for inputting and outputting digital audio data between said second input/output terminal means and preset channels of the second track of said recording medium;   third input/output terminal means for receiving digital still image data and outputting reproduced digital still image data; and   third input/output means for inputting and outputting the digital still image data between said third input/output terminal means, said video memory means and remaining channels of the second track of said recording medium other then said preset channels;   means for selectively outputting first and second mode signals, the first mode signal being used for designating recording and reproducing of the movie image data and digital audio data, and the second mode signal being used for designating the recording and reproducing of movie image data, digital audio data and digital still image data;   said first and second input/output means including means for recording and reproducing, respectively, the movie image data and the digital audio data onto and from the first track and the preset channels of the second track in response to the first mode signal; and   said first, second, and third, input/output means including means for recording and reproducing, respectively, the movie image data, the digital audio data, and the digital still image data onto and from the first track, the preset channels of the second track, and the remaining channels of the second track other than the preset channels in response to the second mode signal.   
     
     
       10. A recording nd reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first input/output means includes means for writing movie image data into said video memory means and reading out the written movie image data; and recording means for recording movie image data read out from said video memory means on the first track of said recording medium. 
     
     
       11. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second input/output means includes means for subjecting digital audio data input via said second input/output terminal means to an error correction encoding process; and, means for recording coded digital audio data from said means for subjecting the digital audio data input via said second input/output terminal means to an error correction encoding process on the second track of said recording medium. 
     
     
       12. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said third input/output means includes buffer means for storing digital still image data input via said third input/output terminal means; and means for writing digital still image data of said buffer means into said video memory means. 
     
     
       13. A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data with respect to a recording medium having first and second tracks, said first and second tracks having a plurality of channels, comprising: digital data output means for outputting a digital audio signal and digital still image data;   video memory means having a capacity of at least one video frame;   first recording means, having a first input terminal, for recording movie image data input to said first input terminal onto the first track of said recording medium via said video memory means;   first output means, having a first output terminal, for reproducing the movie image data recorded onto the first track of said recording medium via said video memory means and outputting the reproduced movie image data to said first output terminal;   second recording means for recording the digital audio data and the digital still image data input from said digital data output means onto the channels of the second track of said recording medium;   means for reproducing the digital audio data and the digital still image data recorded onto the second track of said recording medium;   means for inputting the digital still image data reproduced from the second track of said recording medium to said video memory means;   means, having a second output terminal, for outputting the digital audio data and the digital still image data reproduced from the second track of said recording medium to said second output terminal;   means, having a second input terminal, for inputting digital data, input to said second input terminal, to said video memory means;   means, having a third output terminal, for outputting an output of said video memory means to said third output terminal;   means for selectively outputting first and second mode signals, the first mode signal being used for designating recording and reproducing of the movie image data and digital audio data, and the second mode signal being used for designating the recording and reproducing of the movie image data, digital audio data and digital still image data;   said first and second recording means recording the movie image data and the digital audio data in response to the first mode signal, and recording the movie image data, the digital audio data, and the digital still image data in response to the second mode signal; and   wherein said first and second reproducing means reproduce the movie image data and the digital audio data in response to the first mode signal, and reproduce the movie image data, the digital audio data, and the digital still image data in response to the second mode signal.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for outputting digital audio data and digital still image data comprises means for receiving an external digital audio data and external digital still image data and outputting them. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for outputting digital audio data and digital still image data comprises means for receiving an external analog audio signal and an external still image signal and means for converting the analog audio signal and the analog still image signal into digital audio data and digital still image data and outputting them.